Shumlin told reporters on Thursday that the announcement the exchange would not be able to accept electronic payments until a month after its scheduled Oct. 1 startup was a "nothing burger."

Shumlin says people can begin shopping for health insurance as planned on Oct. 1 through the exchange. But he notes the coverage won't actually start until Jan. 1, and he says it's unlikely anyone will want to pay for it before it starts.

Administration officials had been saying for months it would be all systems go on the exchange by Oct. 1. But Shumlin says it should have been expected there would be glitches.